ACN vs. CLS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ACN and CLS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
ACN’s market capitalization of 190.80 billion USD is substantially larger than CLS’s 18.31 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
With betas of 1.33 for ACN and 1.64 for CLS, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | ACN | CLS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Accenture plc | Celestica Inc. |
| Country | IE | CA |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Information Technology Services | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| CEO | Julie T. Spellman Sweet | Robert Andrew Mionis |
| Price | 304.78 USD | 159.26 USD |
| Market Cap | 190.80 billion USD | 18.31 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.33 | 1.64 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | July 19, 2001 | June 30, 1998 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ACN and CLS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ACN
27.11%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 47.24%
- Q3
- 23.27%
- Median
- 12.85%
- Q1
- 2.22%
- Min
- -26.63%
In the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry, ACN’s Return on Equity of 27.11% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
CLS
23.32%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 38.64%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 8.95%
- Q1
- 1.23%
- Min
- -14.34%
In the upper quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, CLS’s Return on Equity of 23.32% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Return on Invested Capital
ACN
17.83%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 28.29%
- Q3
- 13.19%
- Median
- 7.24%
- Q1
- 0.23%
- Min
- -18.82%
In the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry, ACN’s Return on Invested Capital of 17.83% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
CLS
16.79%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 17.24%
- Q3
- 9.87%
- Median
- 6.54%
- Q1
- 1.56%
- Min
- -7.50%
In the upper quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, CLS’s Return on Invested Capital of 16.79% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
ACN
11.61%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 20.47%
- Q3
- 11.62%
- Median
- 5.97%
- Q1
- 1.89%
- Min
- -4.62%
ACN’s Net Profit Margin of 11.61% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Information Technology Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
CLS
4.09%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 22.76%
- Q3
- 11.04%
- Median
- 3.80%
- Q1
- 1.13%
- Min
- -8.57%
CLS’s Net Profit Margin of 4.09% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
ACN
15.38%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 29.42%
- Q3
- 14.75%
- Median
- 8.92%
- Q1
- 2.62%
- Min
- -11.92%
An Operating Profit Margin of 15.38% places ACN in the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
CLS
6.01%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 25.25%
- Q3
- 13.73%
- Median
- 8.22%
- Q1
- 4.35%
- Min
- -0.79%
CLS’s Operating Profit Margin of 6.01% is around the midpoint for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | CLS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 27.11% | 23.32% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 12.55% | 7.07% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 17.83% | 16.79% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 11.61% | 4.09% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.38% | 6.01% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.07% | 10.59% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ACN
1.46
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 2.37
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.00
ACN’s Current Ratio of 1.46 aligns with the median group of the Information Technology Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
CLS
1.43
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 4.10
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 2.37
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- 0.58
CLS’s Current Ratio of 1.43 falls into the lower quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ACN
0.19
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.16
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.09
- Min
- 0.01
ACN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.19 is typical for the Information Technology Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
CLS
0.60
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 1.19
- Q3
- 0.56
- Median
- 0.33
- Q1
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
CLS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.60. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ACN
210.82
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 17.52
- Q3
- 10.04
- Median
- 4.66
- Q1
- 0.80
- Min
- -10.50
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 210.82, ACN demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Information Technology Services industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
CLS
12.39
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 14.25
- Median
- 9.35
- Q1
- 2.86
- Min
- -13.16
CLS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 12.39 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | CLS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.46 | 1.43 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.46 | 0.85 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.19 | 0.60 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.09 | 0.16 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -0.32 | 0.88 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 210.82 | 12.39 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ACN and CLS. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ACN
1.88%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 1.39%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.88%, ACN offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Information Technology Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
CLS
0.00%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 2.16%
- Q3
- 0.66%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CLS currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ACN
45.10%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 112.81%
- Q3
- 20.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ACN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 45.10% is in the upper quartile for the Information Technology Services industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
CLS
0.00%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 71.55%
- Q3
- 25.37%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CLS has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | CLS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.88% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.10% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ACN
23.94
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 49.12
- Q3
- 36.91
- Median
- 24.84
- Q1
- 15.88
- Min
- 1.55
ACN’s P/E Ratio of 23.94 is within the middle range for the Information Technology Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
CLS
44.75
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 86.58
- Q3
- 53.54
- Median
- 36.07
- Q1
- 25.99
- Min
- 12.16
CLS’s P/E Ratio of 44.75 is within the middle range for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ACN
2.73
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 5.35
- Q3
- 3.79
- Median
- 2.23
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.03
ACN’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.73 is within the middle range of its peers in the Information Technology Services industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
CLS
2.18
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 3.27
- Median
- 2.16
- Q1
- 1.77
- Min
- 0.00
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ACN
2.79
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 8.15
- Q3
- 4.17
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.10
ACN’s P/S Ratio of 2.79 aligns with the market consensus for the Information Technology Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
CLS
1.82
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 8.50
- Q3
- 4.95
- Median
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.32
CLS’s P/S Ratio of 1.82 aligns with the market consensus for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ACN
6.23
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 11.78
- Q3
- 6.14
- Median
- 3.23
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- 0.42
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Information Technology Services industry.
CLS
11.86
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 7.53
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 3.34
- Q1
- 2.35
- Min
- 0.48
At 11.86, CLS’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ACN | CLS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 23.94 | 44.75 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.73 | 2.18 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 2.79 | 1.82 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 6.23 | 11.86 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 60.08 | 51.94 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 15.83 | 26.15 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 2.73 | 1.88 |